By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Morland J. McMurry, United States Army, is cited for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Second Lieutenant (Infantry) McMurry distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company I, 339th Infantry Regiment, 85th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action at Gora, Russia, 8 – 10 November 1918. While in command of a platoon of American and some Russian troops, Lieutenant McMurry was hard pressed by a force of the enemy several times larger than his own. The Russian lieutenant urged Lieutenant McMurry to retreat, but instead of doing so he proceeded to mobilize all the male population in the immediate vicinity, instructed them in the use of Lewis guns, etc., and with his force made an attack and completely routed the enemy.